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Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

swizec.com

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Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#51

Post by richardw »

moe wrote: post #27

I keep trying new tools when they come out, but find myself always snapping back to Notational Velocity. Workflowy reminds me of OmniOutliner, they share a very similar, hierarchical approach. Sadly they also share similar problems; a GUI that's too slow for my fingers and too complex for my little brain. The GUI-complexity stems from the enforced hierarchy. Indenting stuff seems nice at first, and makes it look tidy…

I think it comes down to how a given user works and thinks. Personally, I agree with you about hierarchy (my app doesn't have it and the issue comes up periodically) but I know some that need it. I'm often amazed at how such a simple problem (managing tasks) is solved in such different ways, each which suits one subset of the population!

Sometimes the tool is irrelevant. I have one friend who used a directory structure and text editor (pretty simple) to create an enormous cluster of tasks he'd never get to. Many thousands, like the Windows registry after a couple years of random software installs. His issue was just needing a mechanism to periodically clean it out, so a change in approach rather than a different tool.

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#52

Post by awa »

moe wrote: post #27

I keep trying new tools when they come out, but find myself always snapping back to Notational Velocity. Workflowy reminds me of OmniOutliner, they share a very similar, hierarchical approach. Sadly they also share similar problems; a GUI that's too slow for my fingers and too complex for my little brain. The GUI-complexity stems from the enforced hierarchy. Indenting stuff seems nice at first, and makes it look tidy…

I really like using Onenote with notebook saved on skydrive, I have been able to have the native app on my windows machines and the webapp when I am on the go. Also, there is a really good looking WP7 app now (though I have used it yet)

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#53

Post by zhyder »

moe wrote: post #27

I keep trying new tools when they come out, but find myself always snapping back to Notational Velocity. Workflowy reminds me of OmniOutliner, they share a very similar, hierarchical approach. Sadly they also share similar problems; a GUI that's too slow for my fingers and too complex for my little brain. The GUI-complexity stems from the enforced hierarchy. Indenting stuff seems nice at first, and makes it look tidy…

Wow NV is exactly what I was planning to build as a webapp to scratch my itch. Single text box for both search-as-you-type and for creating a new note. Registered boxuno.com for it.

But I never expected to be able to monetize it; it'd always be a little side project. Such apps are a dime a dozen. The problem with these apps is that simpler is better, but it's hard to differentiate your app from others (or even differentiate between free and premium versions) once it's too simple. I'll be pleasantly surprised if Workflowy can crack this nut.

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#55

Post by [deleted] »

moe wrote: post #27

I keep trying new tools when they come out, but find myself always snapping back to Notational Velocity. Workflowy reminds me of OmniOutliner, they share a very similar, hierarchical approach. Sadly they also share similar problems; a GUI that's too slow for my fingers and too complex for my little brain. The GUI-complexity stems from the enforced hierarchy. Indenting stuff seems nice at first, and makes it look tidy…

[deleted]

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#56

Post by rsaarelm »

Are people really okay with both giving lots of details about what they are working on to an untrusted third party and committing to a tool that may uncontrollably change or disappear depending on what the maintainer decides to do with it?

I suppose I could use it for hobby projects. For work stuff, untrusted third parties having a free view at my workflow is just straight out, so there goes one big use for the system.

For everyday household stuff, my TODO list could be leaking medical and financial information, which is again a privacy problem. At the very least I would have to make sure both my account info and the contents of the tasks were carefully scrubbed of any identifying information. Seems like troublesome enough that I'd probably give the thing a pass in this situation too.

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#57

Post by jessep »

chrisgoodrich wrote: post #48
lwhi wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like the look of it (and the intuitive way it functions) - but (even though my fear maybe irrational) I'm slightly worried about becoming dependent on a tool that might not be around in the future. EDIT: actually, with an export function - there's not so much to lose.

Yeah, I echo this worry. I wish I could pay for this. Not sure if investors are going to be interested in this given the fairly narrow focus of the feature set and potential market. That being said, I think these are the things that make the service so great. Adding much in the way of features in order to increase potential market could ruin its awesomeness.

Hi Chris. We have simple export working now and we're working on regular, automated exports of your whole document.

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#58

Post by jessep »

rsaarelm wrote: post #56

Are people really okay with both giving lots of details about what they are working on to an untrusted third party and committing to a tool that may uncontrollably change or disappear depending on what the maintainer decides to do with it? I suppose I could use it for hobby projects. For work stuff, untrusted third parties having a free view at my workflow is just straight out, so there goes one big use for the syste…

Our users are saying that they use it for work and pretty much everything. Also, we allow easy exporting of your whole list, so you're not going to lose all your data.

Re: Workflowy is to TODO as git is to svn

#59

Post by Swizec »

rsaarelm wrote: post #56

Are people really okay with both giving lots of details about what they are working on to an untrusted third party and committing to a tool that may uncontrollably change or disappear depending on what the maintainer decides to do with it? I suppose I could use it for hobby projects. For work stuff, untrusted third parties having a free view at my workflow is just straight out, so there goes one big use for the syste…

There's a simple solution to this problem -> realising that it is surprisingly easy for anyone with the interest to track you around town as you do your stuff and to plant bugs in your office. The info they get that way is much more useful and detailed than anything you ever write down on a TODO list.

If they're just reading your stuff as a passing curiosity because they accidentally can, then they are not a threat as they have no use for the information.

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